Volume One: The Cloudy Immortal Palace Chapter Nine: The Three Heroes

Chapter Nine: The Three Elites

“Junior Brother Zhou, I wonder if your injury is serious? Is my herbal elixir effective?”

Zhou Hao and Cao Shuang were practicing swordplay when suddenly Yu Nan’s gentle laughter sounded behind them.

The two immediately became vigilant, exchanging glances to warn one another—clearly, the visitor harbored ill intentions.

“Senior Sister Yu’s medicine works wonders; after a day’s rest, I’m lively as ever. See, I’m back practicing today!” Zhou Hao knew ignoring her was useless, so he simply matched Yu Nan’s banter.

“Oh? Is that so? Then, Junior Brother, are you interested in sparring with Senior Sister? I can offer you some pointers!” Yu Nan smiled sweetly, her eyes glimmering with wit.

“Well, Senior Sister, you know yesterday Senior Sister Su sparred with you and you were slightly outmatched, so if you challenge me today, you must be looking to vent your frustration on me! Although you’re a great beauty and I shouldn’t refuse such delightful torment, my skills are shallow, and I’d likely trouble Senior Sister Su to request more elixirs from you. All things considered, perhaps we’d better focus on our own swordplay!” Zhou Hao replied.

At that, Yu Nan realized Zhou Hao was poking fun at her over Su Qing, and her expression faltered. Though she forced a smile, it was clearly strained.

“Zhou Hao, you upstart! How dare you tease your senior sister? Let me show you how immortals conduct themselves!” Cheng Yan, who’d been standing aside, couldn’t tolerate this—Yu Nan was his second goddess.

Now that his goddess had been insulted, how could he bear it?

“Cheng Yan, what did I tell you yesterday? Do you need me to spar with you alone?” Cao Shuang interjected, his gaze unsettling Cheng Yan.

“Enough talk! Zhou Hao, Cao Shuang, neither of you is getting away today. I was going to let you go yesterday, but you just had to call Su Qing to back you up. No matter, they say friends are made through battle—call Su Qing again, and let’s settle this!” Yu Nan, having lost to Su Qing yesterday, was so ashamed she couldn’t sleep. Today, she’d brought Senior Brother Nangong Ying to settle the score.

A crowd of disciples had already gathered around—the immortals, too, were not immune to the lure of excitement.

“Well, well, who dares challenge my senior sister?” The crowd parted to make way.

Two female immortals approached, swords upon their backs—one fresh-faced with short hair to her shoulders, giving off a competent air; the other, more beautiful than any celestial, tall and graceful, her skin like snow and her features as if sculpted from jade, resembling a goddess descended.

“Su Qing!”

Zhou Hao murmured; this was his second time seeing the most beautiful woman of the Cloud Veil Immortal Hall. She still gave him that ethereal, aloof feeling, as though she were a sage from beyond the mortal world.

Not only Zhou Hao but all the male and even the female disciples were entranced by Su Qing’s beauty. Though she practiced swordplay in the square daily, none dared approach—admiring her only from afar. Now, the white-robed beauty stood before them, and they were overwhelmed.

Yu Nan’s expression was entirely different. She herself was striking, but compared to Su Qing, she fell short—not only in looks but in bearing. This left her frustrated yet helpless.

Beside Yu Nan, Xiao Shanshan gazed at the tall, stunning woman in white with wide, adoring eyes—perhaps she alone appreciated such transcendent beauty most among those present. Yet in Yu Nan’s eyes, her lovable junior sister was just a “heartless little rascal.”

“My goddess! Did she just look at me? I think my heart’s about to stop! She’s the most beautiful in Cloud Veil, and I’m the most handsome—we’re a match made in heaven!” Cheng Yan flashed a sunny grin, trying to maintain his poise before the first goddess.

Nangong Ying, too, had always admired Su Qing. In the past, only Yu Yang could compete with him, but now, among the young disciples of Cloud Veil, he was second to none. Surely Su Qing would notice him now? He smiled and nodded at her, but she remained expressionless.

“Su Qing, Wen Yuan! You’ve come uninvited—perfect! Four against four, let’s use this square as our arena and settle things once and for all!” Yu Nan taunted.

“Why should we be afraid? Four on four is fair, and it’s two women and two men on each side—makes it all the more interesting!” Wen Yuan, the short-haired woman, replied.

“Well, well, with two fairies under Elder Li’s tutelage on our side, what a blessing for us brothers!” Cao Shuang laughed.

“I must thank Senior Sister Su again for saving me yesterday!” Zhou Hao stepped forward with a smile toward the aloof beauty in white.

“Junior Brother Zhou, you flatter me. Elder Yunfang and my master are close; seeing you mistreated, I merely did what was right.” To everyone’s surprise, Su Qing actually spoke—and to a male disciple, no less.

Though her demeanor remained distant, her words betrayed a hint of care toward Zhou Hao. Instantly, countless jealous glances fell upon Zhou Hao—all from male disciples who wished him ill.

He was a mere newcomer, just Elder Yunfang’s student—how did he earn the right to converse with the goddess?

On the platform, three hundred disciples withdrew, leaving only eight standing against the wind. No one had expected that the challenge for the title of strongest lower immortal disciple would begin because of a rookie.

From this day forth, Zhou Hao’s name would be etched in the memory of every Cloud Veil disciple. With the first beauty Su Qing showing him favor, his future days would likely be difficult—he’d become a target for many.

“What’s going on? Did I see right—Su Qing is actually fighting on the arena? When did our goddess become so approachable?”

“Who knows? Seems to be because of the new disciple—Elder Yunfang’s latest student from the Ascension Platform.”

“Why? Why would the goddess lower herself for a newcomer? Could she like him?”

“Nonsense! How could that be? He’s just a rookie—the weakest in Cloud Veil. Of all the people Su Qing could like, it wouldn’t be him!”

Outside the square, disciples speculated about the reasons for the duel, all seemingly hostile toward Zhou Hao.

On the immortal halls behind the square, Cloud Veil Immortal Lord and the two vice-masters emerged. They hadn’t expected such a spectacle either.

“Who would’ve thought, without us old ones organizing, these youngsters couldn’t keep still. Well, let’s see which of them is truly the top disciple of Cloud Veil!” The Immortal Lord, white-haired and gaunt, smiled.

“It’s said the disciples call Su Qing, Nangong Ying, and Yu Nan the ‘Three Elites’ of Cloud Veil. I wonder who is truly first among them?” a middle-aged man remarked solemnly, watching the platform.

“Alas, it’s my failing as a teacher—my only promising disciple is my disappointing fat son, and compared to the Three Elites, he’s far behind!” said the other vice-master, short and rotund, smiling like the Maitreya; he was Cao Shuang’s father, Cao Mengda.

The three masters took this duel very seriously—they wanted to know who among the disciples was strongest. This concerned the grand gathering of immortal halls thirty years hence. If Cloud Veil produced a top-three disciple, they could enter the mysterious great immortal’s cave and seize destiny itself—a great fortune for both disciple and sect!

On the flagstone square:

“Yu Nan, why don’t you fight me?” Wen Yuan beckoned to Yu Nan.

“If you’re courting death, I’ll oblige you!” Yu Nan snapped.

“Cheng Yan, let Fatty here show you what I can do!” Cao Shuang said breezily.

“W-who’s afraid? Bring it on!” Cheng Yan’s confidence was clearly lacking—he knew how formidable Cao Shuang was, having suffered defeat at his hands before. But with both first and second goddesses watching, he couldn’t back down now!

“Heh, I’m not one to bully the weak. Fairy Su, may I be your opponent?” Nangong Ying first glanced at Zhou Hao, then turned to Su Qing.

Zhou Hao realized at once that Nangong Ying’s remark was meant to humiliate him—his malicious intent was obvious!

Clang!

Blades flashed, sword energy surged—the eight faced off in pairs, the arena instantly awash in dazzling immortal lights and spells. The battle began fiercely, leaving no room for pause.

Zhou Hao’s opponent was the petite, adorable Xiao Shanshan. Her bright eyes and twin ponytails made it hard to muster the will to fight her.

“What are you looking at? Draw your sword! Don’t underestimate me just because I’m small—I’m your senior sister, you know! Are you looking down on me?”

Seeing Zhou Hao hesitate, staring at her like she was a child, Xiao Shanshan pouted prettily.

“Well, I think we’d better not use swords. Blades are dangerous—I was injured just yesterday by your senior sister! Let’s have a civilized match and keep it friendly, what do you think?” Zhou Hao grinned.

“Hmph, you really are afraid! But you have a point—I don’t like using swords much either. Let’s fight barehanded!” Xiao Shanshan’s palm glowed, forming an imprint.

Bang!

A slender palm imprint swept through the air, turbulent currents swirling. Though delicate, her strike carried immense force—enough to shatter a mountain in the mortal world.

With his meager cultivation, Zhou Hao could only evade. He stood motionless, seemingly dazed, but in truth he had already shifted his true form, dodging the brunt of the attack.

With a boom, “Zhou Hao” exploded—but there was no blood. The figure dissolved into a mist—he’d used a clone technique to escape.

“Careful, Senior Sister!”

As Xiao Shanshan’s gaze still lingered on the clone, the real Zhou Hao seized the chance, landing a punch to her midsection.

But as before, she too dissolved into mist—a clone!

“Hmph, did you think you were the only one who knew that trick?” Xiao Shanshan teased from midair.

“Again!”

Zhou Hao rubbed his nose—he’d been outmaneuvered by a little girl, bested at his own game.

The most riveting match was between Su Qing and Nangong Ying—their prowess left the others in awe. Their swordsmanship was flawless, and their cultivation at the lower immortal level, deep as an abyss.

Slice!

Sword energy swept forth as Nangong Ying launched a series of strikes, radiant immortal light bursting from his body toward Su Qing. She shifted with lotus-like steps, her immortal blade tracing silver arcs that neutralized the oncoming energy. Not only that, her sword marks advanced, absorbing Nangong Ying's protective aura.

Nangong Ying frowned—Su Qing’s swordplay surprised him. Cloud Veil swordsmanship prized unity with heaven and spontaneous action, but he’d never seen such strange techniques. Those silver marks were truly formidable—his attacks could not break through.

Boom!

A golden fist imprint shone forth, smashing through the silver sword marks. It emanated from Nangong Ying’s right hand, his entire arm aglow with golden light, radiating immense power.